Grape | vital.ly

Grape

Scientific names: Vitis vinifera, Vitis labrusca

Family: Vitaceae

Alternate names: Activin, Black Grape Raisins, Calzin, Concord Grape, Draksha, Enocianina, European Wine Grape, Extrait de Feuille de Raisin, Extrait de Feuille de Vigne Rouge, Extrait de Peau de Raisin, Extrait de Pepins de Raisin, Feuille de raisin, Feuille de Vigne Rouge, Feuille de Vigne Rouge AS 195, Flame Grape, Flame Raisins, Flame Seedless, Folia Vitis Viniferae, Fox Grape, Grape Fruit, Grape Fruit Skin, Grape Juice, Grape Leaf, Grape Leaf Extract, Grape Polyphenols, Grape Pomace, Grape Seed, Grape Seed Extract, Grape Seed Oil, Grape Skin, Grape Skin Extract, Grapes, Grapeseed, Huile de Pépins de Raisin, Kali Draksha, Leucoanthocyanin, Muscat, Muskat, Oligomères Procyanidoliques, Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins, Oligomeric Procyanidins, OPC, OPCs, PCO, PCOs, Peau de Raisin, Pépin de Raisin, Petite Sirah, Proanthocyanidines Oligomériques, Proanthodyn, Proanthodyne, Procyanidines Oligomériques, Procyanidolic Oligomers, Purple Grape, Raisin, Raisin Blanc, Raisin de Table, Raisin de Vigne, Raisins, Raisins Noirs, Red Globe, Red Grape, Red Malaga, Red Vine, Red Vine Leaf AS 195, Red Vine Leaf Extract, Skunk Grape, Sultanas, Table Grapes, Thompson Seedless, Uva, Vin Rouge, White Grape, Wine Grape, Wine Grapes

Actions: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, Antiallergic, Antiarthritic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antifungal, Anti-inflammatory, Antilipemic, Antioxidant, Antivenom, Antiviral, Bone, Cardiovascular, Dental, Dermatologic, Drug metabolizing, Gastrointestinal, Hepatic, Immunostimulant, Neurologic, Photoprotective, Radiation protective, Wound-healing

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Scientific names: Vitis vinifera, Vitis labrusca

Family: Vitaceae

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Background

Grapes are the fruit of grapevines. Vitis vinifera and Vitis labrusca are two common grapevine species. Vitis labrusca is commonly known as Concord grape.

The whole fruit, skin, leaves, and seed of grape are used as medicine. Grape contains flavonoids, which can have antioxidant effects. They might help prevent heart disease and have other beneficial effects. Red grape varieties provide more antioxidants than white or blush grape varieties.

People use grape for poor circulation that can cause the legs to swell. It is also used for eye stress, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, and many other conditions. But there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.

Don't confuse grape with grapefruit. These are not the same.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: Grapes are commonly consumed in foods. It is possibly safe when the whole fruit or the extract of the fruit, leaf, or seed, are used as medicine. Grape seed extracts and fruit extracts have been used safely for up to 11 months. Eating large quantities of grapes might cause diarrhea. Some people have allergic reactions to grapes and grape products. Some other side effects might include cough, dry mouth, and headache.

When applied to the skin: Grape seed oil is possibly safe when used for up to 3 weeks. There isn't enough reliable information to know if other parts of grape are safe to use.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Grapes are commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if grape is safe to use in medicinal amounts when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Children: Grapes are commonly consumed in foods. But keep in mind that whole grapes are a potential choking hazard for children aged 5 years and younger. Whole grapes should be cut in half or quartered before being served to children. There isn't enough reliable information to know if grape is safe to use in amounts greater than those found in foods.

Bleeding conditions: Grape extract might slow blood clotting. Taking grape extract might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding in people with bleeding conditions. But it's not clear if this is a big concern.

Surgery: Grape extract might slow blood clotting. It might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using grape extract at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Effectiveness

NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions

Poor circulation that can cause the legs to swell (chronic venous insufficiency or CVI). Taking grape seed extract or proanthocyanidin, a chemical in grape seeds, by mouth seems to reduce symptoms of CVI such as tired or heavy legs and pain.

Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions

Hay fever. Taking grape seed extract by mouth doesn't seem to decrease seasonal allergy symptoms or the need to use allergy medications.
Nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drug treatment. Drinking grape juice 30 minutes before meals for a week following each cycle of chemotherapy doesn't seem to reduce nausea or vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
Overactive bladder. Drinking grape juice doesn't seem to improve overactive bladder in older males.
Breast pain (mastalgia). Taking proanthocyanidin, a chemical found in grape seed extract, does not reduce breast tissue hardness, pain, or tenderness in people treated with radiation therapy for breast cancer.
Obesity. Drinking grape juice or taking grape seed extract doesn't seem to reduce weight in overweight people. But it might help lower cholesterol and control blood sugar.

There is interest in using grape for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Dosing & administration

Grapes are commonly eaten as the whole fruit, and in juices, jellies, and other products.

As medicine, whole grape extracts, grape seed extracts, grape leaf or vine extracts, grape juices, and grape pomaces have been used. Grape seed and grape vine extracts are also used in creams, ointments, and sprays. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.